| Title: | Glaucoma in UK Biobank: A Comparison of Diagnostic- Versus Treatment-based Definitions |
| Journal: | Ophthalmology |
| Published: | 17 Jun 2026 |
| Pubmed: | https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42309491/ |
| DOI: | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ophtha.2026.06.012 |
Publication 20720
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Abstract
PURPOSE: To compare, in the context of a population-scale biobank, associations of established risk factors and severity biomarkers with different glaucoma disease definitions.</p>
DESIGN: Observational cohort study.</p>
SUBJECTS: 503,325 participants in UK Biobank.</p>
METHODS: Odds ratios (ORs) for associations of established risk factors (corneal-compensated intraocular pressure [IOPcc], polygenic risk score [PRS]) and clinical biomarkers of disease severity (macular retinal nerve fiber layer [mRNFL], ganglion cell layer [mGCL]) with different glaucoma definitions.</p>
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Participants without glaucoma (n=481,772) were compared to those with: (1) a diagnosis of glaucoma based on self-report, hospital inpatient, or primary care records ("diagnosis-only"; n=16,154); or (2) a diagnosis plus evidence of treatment with glaucoma-specific medication or surgery ("diagnosed-and-treated"; n=7,012), either at baseline or during follow-up.</p>
RESULTS: For participants in the highest 5% of IOPcc compared with the remainder, ORs were 23.6 (95% CI: 21.3-26.2) in the diagnosed-treated group versus 11.4 (10.6-12.3; p<1x10-10 for difference) in the diagnosed-only group. Corresponding ORs were: 8.0 (6.9-9.2) in diagnosed-treated vs 4.7 (4.2-5.3; p=2.32x10-7 for difference) in diagnosed-only for the thinnest 5% mRNFL; 7.1 (6.1-8.3) in diagnosed-treated vs 4.2 (3.7-4.7; p=2.53x10-7 for difference) in diagnosed-only for the thinnest 5% mGCL; and 8.4 (7.9-8.8) in diagnosed-treated vs 5.6 (5.4-5.9; p<1x10-10 for difference) in diagnosed-only for the highest 5% PRS. There were similar patterns for the other risk factors studied.</p>
CONCLUSION: Definitions of glaucoma that combine both diagnostic and treatment evidence yielded substantially stronger odds ratios with IOPcc, mRNFL, and mGCL than definitions based on diagnostic evidence alone, suggesting implications for studies of glaucoma in population biobanks.</p>
6 Authors
- Schierding W
- Khoo A
- Akeroyd E
- Butterworth As
- Danesh J
- Danesh-Meyer Hv
1 Application
| Application ID | Title |
|---|---|
| 76765 | A series of investigations exploring the relationship between genetic and environmental factors and acute and chronic ocular and neurological conditions |
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